Media Statements

Copyright advocacy group the Australian Digital Alliance is urging the government to move swiftly on reforms that would allow online platforms, especially those that host third party content, to operate safely in Australia.

The government today missed a crucial opportunity to rectify a 10 year old drafting error that has left Australian online platforms, educational institutions, libraries and other service providers at a competitive disadvantage and at heightened legal risk.

No move will be made on safe harbour extension, despite the proposal receiving wide support when proposed in the Online Copyright Infringement discussion paper released earlier in the year.

A year ago today, the bipartisan IT Pricing Inquiry concluded that Australians do pay more for their music, movies and IT products. This ‘Australia tax’ they concluded, was not explained by additional staffing costs or warranty obligations, but primarily by deliberate market segmentation, enforced with goeblocks on digital content.